Original Word: τηρήσις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: térésis
Pronunciation: tay-RAY-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (tay'-ray-sis)
Definition: Keeping, guarding, custody, imprisonment
Meaning: a prison; observance (as of precepts).

hold.

From tereo; a watching, i.e. (figuratively) observance, or (concretely) a prison -- hold.

see GREEK tereo

Cognate: 5084 tḗrēsis – final safe-keeping (well-kept preservation), emphasizing the end-result of being kept intact. See 5083 (tēreō).

[5084 (tḗrēsis) accordingly is used of "the place of detention" – literally "a safe keeping place." See Ac 4:3, 5:18.]

Word Origin
from téreó
Definition
a watching, hence imprisonment, a keeping
NASB Translation
jail (2), keeping (1).

STRONGS NT 5084: τήρησις

τήρησις, τηρησεως, ἡ (τηρέω);

a. a watching: of prisoners (Thucydides 7, 86); the place where prisoners are kept, a prison (R. V. ward): Acts 4:3; Acts 5:18.

b. a keeping, i. e. complying with obeying: τῶν ἐντολῶν, 1 Corinthians 7:19; Sir. 35:23 (Sir. 32:23); νόμων, Wis. 6:19.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb τηρέω (tēreō), meaning "to keep," "to guard," or "to observe."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek concept of τηρήσις can be related to several Hebrew terms that convey similar meanings of keeping or guarding. These include:
• שָׁמַר (shamar) • Strong's Hebrew 8104, meaning "to keep," "to guard," or "to observe."
• מִשְׁמָר (mishmar) • Strong's Hebrew 4929, meaning "guard," "watch," or "custody."

These Hebrew terms reflect the Old Testament understanding of God's commandments being kept and the faithful being guarded by divine protection, paralleling the New Testament usage of τηρήσις in the context of spiritual and physical safeguarding.

Usage: The term τηρήσις is used in the New Testament to describe a condition or place of custody or imprisonment. It emphasizes the aspect of being kept under watch or guard.

Context: The Greek noun τηρήσις appears in the New Testament in contexts that involve custody or imprisonment. It is used to describe a physical place where individuals are kept under guard. The term highlights the aspect of careful observation and protection, whether for safekeeping or confinement.

In Acts 5:18, the apostles are placed in "public jail" (τηρήσει δημοσίᾳ), indicating a place of custody where they were kept under watch. The use of τηρήσις here underscores the notion of being held securely, reflecting the broader theme of divine oversight and human authority.

The concept of τηρήσις can also be understood in a spiritual sense, where the faithful are kept or preserved by God. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of God's protective care over His people, ensuring their spiritual safety and perseverance.

τηρησει τηρήσει τηρησιν τήρησιν τηρησις τήρησις teresei terḗsei tērēsei tērḗsei teresin tērēsin tḗresin tḗrēsin teresis tērēsis tḗresis tḗrēsisInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts